The Countess of Wessex gives birth to a baby girl

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS ISSUED BY THE PRESS SECRETARY TO THE EARL AND COUNTESS OF WESSEX

Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex was safely delivered of a baby girl by emergency caesarean section at 11.32pm on Saturday 8th November, at the Frimley Park NHS Hospital in Surrey. The weight of the baby was 4lbs 9oz.

Her Royal Highness and her daughter are both stable. As a purely precautionary measure, the baby was taken to the regional neo natal unit at St George's Hospital, Tooting.

The medical team attending Her Royal Highness were Mr Gareth Beynon (Consultant Obstetrician/gynaecologist); Mr Sukhpal Singh (Consultant Surgeon); Anne Deans (Consultant Obstetrician/gynaecologist); Dr Peta Maltby (Consultant Paediatrician ); Dr Melinda Brazier (SpR Anaesthetics); Dr Claire Edkins (Consultant Anaesthetics); Dr Paul Wong (SHO Anaesthetics); Mr Adam Lewis (Sarjeant Surgeon to The Queen); and Mr Marcus Setchell (Surgeon Gynaecologist).

The Earl of Wessex, who was on an official visit to Mauritius, flew home early to be with his wife and daughter.

His Royal Highness has now cancelled or postponed planned engagements for the early part of this week, but will represent Her Royal Highness at a reception for the Brainwave charity on Wednesday evening.

The Countess's previously arranged engagements on 17 and 18 November have now been cancelled.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh are being kept informed of the progress of both The Countess and her baby, and they are very pleased that they are both doing well.

Her Royal Highness and her daughter will remain in hospital for the foreseeable future.